Knitting-machine.



No. 065,300. Patented 1an. l, |901. .1. ADAMS. Y

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med Apr. "7; 1900.)

(NQ Model.) sheets-snm l.

- )f' fr 1] E l f No. 665,300l Patented lan. I, I90I.

J. ADAMS.. KNITTING MAGHINE.

(Application Bled Apr. 7, 1900.)

(No Mogel.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNTTn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH ADAMS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNITTlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 665,300, dated January 1, 1901.

Application tiled April 7, 1900.

To all whom t 11a/ay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ADAMS, a citzen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in knitting-machines, and especially to that portion thereof which conveys the threads to the needles for striping, feeding, and guiding, and has for its object to provide a mechanism which will so manipulate these threads as to automatically break off either of the threads which are being fed and permit them to be taken up again in carrying out the pattern of the article being knitted.

With these ends in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand howto make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specitication, in which- Figure lis a section of a portion ofthe knitting-machine, showing my improvements attached thereto; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3, a section at the line a: :n of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 4L a section at the line y y of Fig. 3 looking downward and showing the means for connecting the pattern-chain with my improvements.

In carrying out my invention as here elnbodied, A represents a portion of the framework of a knitting-machine, and B the needles which are of usual construction and operation. Projecting upward from the frame A is a post C, having a plate D supported thereby, in which are the guide-holes E for the passage of the threads F from the usual bobbins. A take-up Gr is tted at II to the frame, and consists of arms having Atheir upper ends bent inward, as indicated at I, and the holes J are formed therein for the passage of the Serial No. 12,030. (No model.)

threads, as clearlyindicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the object of which will be hereinafter eX- plained. This double take-up is actuated by the lever K, which is pivoted at L, its forward end lying between two members of the takeup at their juncture, so that when this lever is oscillated the take-up will likewise be oscillated in a corresponding direction. The rear end of the lever Kis connected at M to the right-angle lever N in such manner that the movements of this right-angle lever will effect the operation of the lever K, and the right-angle lever is in turn connected by the rod O to the pattern-chain mechanism, so that according to the predetermined pattern placed upon the chain the lever K will be operated, and this in turn will aetuate the take-up in 'unison therewith.

As the pattern-chain and mechanism are Well known I have not deemed it necessary to enter into a detail description thereof.

A boss P is located upon the upper surface of the frame A and is so shaped as to permit the forward portion of the lever K to ride over the same, and this portion ofthe lever has suflicient resiliency to permit this action. Therefore when the lever is swung to a central position it will be suflciently elevated from the surface of the frame to afford a free passage of the threads from opposite sides of the lever to the guideway Q, by which the threads are conducted to the needles in the usual manner.

From this description it will be seen that when the forward portion of the lever L is in its central position both of the threads .will be permitted to pass freely to the needles, and when the lever is in this position the arms of the take-up will be held in a central position, whereby the same amount of tension will be given to each of the threads passing through the holes J, as each thread will have the saine distance to travel. Now when in accordance with the predetermined pattern it is necessary that but one thread be fed to the needles the pattern-chain mechanism will so actuate the right-angle leverN as to carry the forward portion of the lever K to one side, and in so doing this portion of this lever will ride from o the boss P and spring downward upon the thread upon that side of the guide, thus put- IOC ting sufficient pressure upon this thread to cause it to break when it engages with the needles, while leaving the opposite thread free to continue to be drawn in by said needles and worked into the article being knitted. When the pattern calls for the taking up of the broken thread, the pattern-chain mechanism will carry the forward portion of the lever K back upon the boss, thus freeing the broken thread from pressure and permitting the needles to take up the iioating end thereof and draw it into the knitting. As is obvious, the movement of the lever K to the opposite side of the boss will affect the opposite thread in the same manner, so that either or both of the threads may be fed to the work or either of them independent of the other, and this is accomplished automatically, as above set fort-h.

In order that no difficulty may be experienced in the needles taking up the floating end of the broken thread, the take-up at the time the broken thread is released slackens the thread above the guideway, thus relieving the tension of a certain amount thereof, so as to facilitate the drawing in of this thread by the needle, and this is accomplished as follows: As before stated, when the forward end of the lever is carried to one side of the boss and permitted to bind one of the threads the` take-up moves in unison therewith and to the same side, as indicated in dott-ed lines in Fig, 3, which draws in or takes up a certain amount of thread and holds it in reserve until the lever is brought to its central position for the releasing of the broken thread, which operation will return the take-up to its central position,and thus give up any slack thread which had previously been taken up and held in reserve. This action takes place in connection with both threads, since the take-up is provided with two arms, each thread passing through one thereof.

It will be seen that the operation is exceedingly simple, entirely automatic, and effective in its construction and action.

My improvement may be applied to knitting-machines as now constructed with little or no alteration thereof.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction ,here shown and described, as these may be Varied Within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new and useful isl. In combination with a knitting-machine and its frame, a take-up comprising two converging arms pivoted to the frame, and having their upper ends bent inward and provided with holes, a lever connected to the pattern-chain mechanism having its end lying between and oscillating the arms of the takeup, a boss over which the lever operates and by which it is elevated from contact with the frame and a guideway in the frame, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a knitting-machine and its frame, a take-up pivoted to the frame and having arms with inbent ends provided with holes, a lever taking motion from the pattern-chain mechanism, a thread-guideway in the frame, said lever acting in conjunction with the frame forclam ping a thread on either side of the thread-guideway, means for holding the lever out of engagement with the thread, a connection between the lever and thread-guide whereby movement of the 1ever oscillates the guide, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ADAMS.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH MCKENNA, MYRDITH J. BUcRoFT. 

